Read our live coronavirus updates HERE

Confusion over whether face masks would reduce the spread of Covid-19 in public places deepened today as a minister suggested that there may not be enough to go round even if scientists recommend their use on public transport and in offices.

Live coronavirus updates here

Dominic Raab has warned that a "second spike" in UK coronavirus cases would trigger a second lockdown which would "prolong the economic pain we are all going through".

Fewer people would have died from coronavirus in the UK if the country had greater testing capacity sooner, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

Social distancing at airports would lead to 1km-long queues for each jumbo jet, Heathrow's chief executive has claimed.

Antibody tests at 98 per cent accuracy would put up to a quarter of population at risk of infection, government advisers have warned.

Boris Johnson has issued a reminder to the public that everyone must continue to respect lockdown measures if they want to see restrictions lifted sooner rather than later.

Brenda Francis settled into the Kingdom Hall in Calhoun, Georgia, in mid-March, surrounded by dozens of familiar faces. Signs cautioning against shaking hands and hugging were posted around the room. It felt weird to her but was certainly understandable with the threat of an outbreak looming. She herself already had stocked up on some masks and gloves.When it came time for members to comment on the Bible readings, Francis noticed the microphones typically passed around the room were now attached to the end of long poles.That was the moment Francis, a 69-year-old widow living in a small, semirural community in the South, realized just how dramatically the coronavirus pandemic was about to reshape her spiritual life, more than anything ever had in the 47 years since she was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness.A few days after the boom mics came out in the Kingdom Hall, word came down from the group's headquarters that, in the interest of safety, Jehovah's Witnesses should stop witnessing, its practice of in-person attempts at converting people to the group."People would be so receptive right now," she said of her ministry, "and we can't knock on doors."Across the country, most religious groups have stopped coming together in large numbers to pray and hold services, in keeping with stay-at-home orders. They have improvised with online preaching and even drive-in services as the faithful sit in cars. Mormons have stopped going door to door in the United States and called home many missionaries working abroad.Jehovah's Witnesses -- with 1.3 million U.S. members who hand out brochures on sidewalks and subway platforms and ring doorbells -- are one of the most visible religious groups in the nation. Members are called on to share Scriptures in person with nonmembers, warning of an imminent Armageddon and hoping to baptize them with the prospect of living forever.The decision to stop their ministries was the first of its kind in the nearly 150 years of the group's existence. It followed anguished discussions at Watchtower headquarters, with leaders deciding March 20 that knocking on doors would leave the impression that members were disregarding the safety of those they hoped to convert."This was not an easy decision for anybody," said Robert Hendriks, the group's U.S. spokesman. "As you know, our ministry is our life."It was for Francis, who became a Jehovah's Witness when she was in her 20s with a newborn and a member knocked on her door in Tennessee and persuaded her to attend a Kingdom Hall meeting. She converted. Her family was angry that she no longer came to holiday gatherings; the group doesn't believe in celebrating holidays or birthdays. Jehovah's Witnesses became her new family.The more she studied the Bible, the more she came to believe it led to eternal life. She needed to spread the word.Showing up cold on someone's doorstep didn't come naturally. She was so shy that once, she recalled, her high school principal -- "this huge Goliath guy" -- stood on her foot in a crowded hallway; she didn't say a word but waited in pain for him to move. She had considered a career going door to door as a Mason Shoes saleswoman, but after receiving a catalog, she never mustered the courage to even try to make a sale.To her, witnessing was different. Her faith had helped her stop smoking. It gave her meaning. She had seen people clean up their lives after attending meetings at Kingdom Hall."By the time I did go to doors, I was so convinced this was the right thing to do that I had no nervousness," Francis said.Through the years, she learned to build her pitch around a theme -- a Bible verse or a current event -- and tried not to sound rehearsed."You don't want to sound like a robot," she said. "You work from the heart. You want enthusiasm."Early this year, Francis had been seeing reports on Facebook about the virus sweeping through Wuhan, China. The host of a show she watched on YouTube, Peak Prosperity, had been warning that the outbreak could spread internationally.She bought masks and face shields, just in case. She started using plastic grocery bags to cover the gas pump handle when she filled up her tank.By early March, the virus still hadn't hit Gordon County, where Francis lives. But the possibility was weighing on her mind. The message on her favorite YouTube show was getting more dire as the host, Chris Martenson, a financial guru-turned-pandemic early warner, ratcheted up his pleadings for viewers to prepare themselves.Francis' 27-year-old granddaughter has a compromised immune system. As a senior citizen, she herself was vulnerable. She did what she always has done and channeled her own feelings into her door-knocking ministry. Do you think, she would ask people as she carpooled with other members to canvass the county, that the virus is a sign of the end of the world?"No one was paying much attention," she said.Elsewhere, in places like New York where infections were starting to climb, Jehovah's Witnesses members were feeling the pinch on their ministries.One of them, Joe Babsky, had been easing into conversations with members of his Planet Fitness gym in the Bronx for weeks. He knew them by first name only: Jerry, who had lost more than 100 pounds; Jason, who seemed to spend an hour on each body part; Bernie, a 78-year-old who was more fit than men half his age. Babsky had shown a few of them Bible verses and had made progress recently with Bernie discussing the logic behind the existence of an intelligent creator.Then the gym closed."All those conversations and others were cut short," Babsky said.Life continued as normal in Francis' town of Calhoun. She was convinced things were about to change, but she was too embarrassed to wear a mask -- until an encounter in Costco when a passing shopper coughed without covering her mouth.In mid-March, her Kingdom Hall meetings went virtual. Members logged into Zoom to share Bible Scriptures. Francis settled on one that she thought would resonate as she knocked on doors in her neighborhood across the county, which had by then registered a handful of COVID-19 cases.At the doorstep, Francis would start her pitch by asking people if they could make one thing in the world go away, what would it be? If the answer had to do with the pandemic, she would recite a couple of verses from the book of Luke:"There will be great earthquakes, and in one place after another food shortages and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and from heaven great signs."All the signs were clear, she would announce. Armageddon was near. Her message finally seemed to be resonating with people.And then she got word to stop knocking on doors."This has been so much a part of our lives, so it was like, wow," she said. "I have often envisioned in paradise where going door to door would not be a thing because everyone knows God."This was not paradise.But Francis was convinced that the end of the world was not far away. There were just too many signs, she said. And so she and many other Jehovah's Witnesses members were more compelled than ever to witness any way they could. Many began writing letters or making phone calls to anyone whose numbers they had managed to collect before the pandemic hit.Masked and gloved, Francis hands out pamphlets and cards with her phone number on them to fellow shoppers at the grocery store.Last week, she sent a text to a woman in Hawkinsville, Georgia, a few miles away, whom she had been contacting from time to time. The woman said her restaurant had to close because of the pandemic and her brother-in-law was sick with the virus. A couple of days later he died.Francis texted Scriptures to the woman and told her that soon all the sickness on Earth would be over; all sins would be forgiven; paradise was near.The next day she received a written response: "Thank you so much for the information. It was such a comfort."This article originally appeared in The New York Times.(C) 2020 The New York Times Company

'This type of natural manipulation in ecosystems ... has barely been researched to date, but holds tremendous potential,' says researcher

Earlier Matt Frei spoke to Mark Roscrow, the Chair of Trustees for the Health Care Supplies Association

I am not that kind of person and have made it clear I don’t want to hear from him. What more can I do?

Before the lockdown, I had a boyfriend with whom I had been for 16 months. He said he wanted to experiment sexually with another couple, which I found shocking. I am not that kind of person, so I broke up with him. Despite the breakup, he is still constantly texting me, even though I stopped texting him a while back and made it clear I don’t want to see him. The situation hurts me so much, and any help you could offer would be much appreciated.

Joining another couple for erotic fun is not uncommon; many people enjoy it. In fact, there are many communities of people who regularly participate in this sexual style. But it is not for everyone, and jealousies and insecurities can arise no matter how sexually open a person is. “Swinging” is advanced sexual play that requires a couple to be well bonded and requires each partner to be psychologically stable as well as sexually mature.

Asked by LBC's Nick Ferrari if he would join them, Mr Jenrick said: "No, I don't think I would do. But I'm not going to pass judgement on other people and what they're choosing to do.

Boris Johnson has said he feared he would not live to see his son born as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month.

Immigrants in the U.S. sent an estimated $150 billion to their home countries in 2019 — half to Latin America and the Caribbean. The World Bank is predicting a sharp decline in remittances this year.

The unfavorable comparison between the current president and his predecessor is one of the clearest signs to date of an emerging dynamic that will define the remainder of Trump’s term and the presidential election.

'The Mindy Project' star and writer talks to Priya Arora about breaking boundaries with her new Netflix show 'Never Have I Ever', a coming-of-age comedy about a modern-day first-generation Indian American teenage girl, much like younger herself

Parsons stars in Ryan Murphy's new Netflix series, Hollywood

Hesmondhalgh said she did a "decent job" of playing Corrie's first trans character - but would not take the part now

Designers have begun the shift to virtual wedding dress fittings

The actor won an Oscar for his portrayal of Roman General Maximus.

Predict the results of the matches that should have been played this weekend...

It's been four weeks since a ball was last kicked in the Premier League.

Barcelona misfit Philippe Coutinho would "love" a return to the Premier League, according to agent Kia Joorabchian.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes Harry Kane would turn Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into title contenders, and is sure that Tottenham would 'snap their hand off' if a £200million bid came in.

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has urged Jurgen Klopp to bring Philippe Coutinho back to Anfield, saying he would re-sign the Brazilian "in a heartbeat".

Ivan Rakitic has made 299 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions and remains the only midfielder to score for the Catalan club in a European Cup final. At Camp Nou, his name is still cheered by fans.

Premier League clubs including Arsenal have had their eye on Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey for some time.

Former Premier League Golden Boot winner Kevin Phillips believes Harry Kane would be a "wonderful fit" for Manchester United.

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has named old friend Francisco Ramos as the player he would most like to join him at Old Trafford.

Manchester United and England great Wayne Rooney had backed Harry Kane to break his international scoring record, and believes the Tottenham forward is an ideal player to build a team around.

Marcus Rashford says it would have been a "dream" to play alongside Paul Scholes at Manchester United.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas says PSG star Kylian Mbappe is the one player he would sign if he was a manager and money was no object.

Former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas has named the one current Gunners player he would most want to play with.

EXCLUSIVE

Only clubs with a "death wish" would want to continue the National League season, according to one chairman, after the campaign was finally abandoned on Wednesday.

Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi says he would love his club to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.

Glen Johnson has urged his former club Chelsea to sign Philippe Coutinho this summer.

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has offered his support to players like Mesut Ozil, insisting he would have refused to take a pay cut if he found himself in the situation Premier League stars are currently faced with.

Frank Lampard has been warned he could be about to make his first big mistake as Chelsea manager.

Almost a third of football fans would sacrifice their own clubs' prospects for the remainder of the season in order to see Liverpool miss out on the title, a survey has found.

Ferran Torres has the talent and temperament to succeed at Liverpool if he makes a move to the Premier League, according to a former Valencia chief.

Orkun Kokcu has been backed to make the grade at Arsenal by former Manchester United star Jaap Stam.

Tottenham are reportedly looking for midfield reinforcements this summer, with Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic the latest name linked.

Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris says it would 'be cruel' on Liverpool not to be crowned Premier League champions.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is worth breaking the world transfer record for, a new study has found.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes it would be unfair to hand Barcelona the title in LaLiga – because Los Blancos were the better team.

West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini believes it would be "crazy" for the Premier League to resume playing while coronavirus remains a threat to player safety.